A fresh storm is brewing inside the Trinamool Congress (TMC) as party chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a stern warning to party MP Mahua Moitra over her recent verbal altercation with senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee. According to sources, Mamata has cautioned Mahua to “back off or face possible suspension from the party” if such behavior continues.
The issue was brought to Mamata Banerjee’s attention by TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien, who reportedly gave her a detailed briefing about the heated exchange between Moitra and Banerjee. Following this, Mamata’s message was conveyed to Mahua Moitra by a female Rajya Sabha MP. The message, as per insiders, clearly warned Moitra of disciplinary action, including possible suspension, if her conduct does not change.
What Sparked the Feud Between Mahua and Kalyan Banerjee?
Tensions between Mahua Moitra and Kalyan Banerjee are reportedly not new and have been building over time. Sources claim that Mahua has been upset with Banerjee for consistently denying her adequate speaking time in the Lok Sabha. As the party’s designated floor manager, Kalyan Banerjee is responsible for allocating time to MPs during debates, and Moitra—known for her fiery speeches—is believed to have felt sidelined.
Further compounding the situation is Kalyan Banerjee’s growing influence within the party and his increasing media visibility, which has allegedly made Moitra feel insecure. Matters took an ugly turn when Mahua reportedly used abusive language during a confrontation with Banerjee—going so far as to insult his daughter and refer to him as “chhoto lok,” a derogatory Bengali term meaning “lowly person.” The comment reportedly hurt Banerjee deeply and escalated the internal rift.
BJP Adds Fuel to Fire with Leaked Videos and Chats
Earlier this week, the BJP intensified the controversy by sharing alleged video footage and screenshots of a verbal spat between the two TMC MPs. Amit Malviya, head of the BJP’s IT cell, posted the content on X (formerly Twitter), claiming that the confrontation took place at the Election Commission of India (ECI) headquarters on April 4.
According to the BJP, the argument erupted during the submission of a memorandum by TMC leaders. Malviya even alleged that the altercation became so intense that police intervention was nearly required.
Further reports suggest that Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien had tasked Kalyan Banerjee with collecting signatures for a delegation to meet the Election Commission. As Banerjee had court duties in the Supreme Court that day, he delegated the task to his secretary. However, he managed to join the delegation later in person. Sources say that when he reached the ECI office, Mahua Moitra confronted him about why her signature hadn’t been collected. Banerjee allegedly responded that her name wasn’t on the original list of MPs slated to attend the meeting—an explanation that did little to ease the tension.
As internal friction within the TMC spills into the public domain, the party finds itself in a delicate position. With Mamata Banerjee now stepping in directly, it remains to be seen how the leadership will handle dissent and power dynamics among its prominent voices.
